Pediatric Gastrointestinal Basidiobolomycosis: A Retrospective Study from Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction

Basidiobolomycosis is a rare fungal infection caused by Basidiobolus ranarum, and its incidence is poorly understood due to its rarity. Gastrointestinal Basidiobolomycosis (GIB) is an uncommon presentation with limited reports in Saudi Arabia. This retrospective study aims to describe risk factors, clinical findings, diagnosis, and management of GIB in the pediatric population.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients diagnosed with GIB at a tertiary hospital between 2010 and 2022. Patients were identified based on their diagnosis of GIB. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to assess risk factors associated with GIB.

Results

We analyzed 25 cases of pediatric GIB, with approximately half of the cases (56%) occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean age of affected patients was 6.6 years, with a male predominance (60%, n=15). About 100% of parents acknowledged gecko existence in their residence, and their children were exposed to insect bites. Poor appetite was reported in all patients, and high counts of eosinophils and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were observed. Thrombocytosis was present in approximately 90% of patients, and 87% had anemia. Abdominal computerized tomography scans and ultrasound-guided biopsies were the most used diagnostic tools, with cases being diagnosed based on histopathological findings and confirmed via fungal culture.

Conclusion

Our study provides valuable information on the potential risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of pediatric GIB in the Jazan region. The observed increase in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for continued surveillance and research to understand better the epidemiology and associated risk factors with this rare fungal infection. These findings emphasize the need for heightened awareness, early detection, and effective prevention strategies to mitigate the impact of pediatric GIB.

Keywords:

• gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis
• fungal infection
• abdominal mass
• voriconazole
• Jazan
• Saudi Arabia

Data Sharing Statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Institutional Review Board Statement

This study was conducted per the ethical standards of the local ethical committee and ethically approved by the Jazan Health Ethics Committee (approval number 2160).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank King Fahd Central Hospital-Jazan and all supporting medical teams for their help in facilitating this research project and the patients’ guardians for being collaborative to responded to our questions about the risk factors.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.